^Interesting review. I agree, I was glad to see a musical. I actually have the songs all on my iPod! It was really great music, and it was the best part of the film.
I didn’t mind the humor. It was cheesy sometimes, I will be the first to admit that! But I don’t recall any fart jokes or other gross humor. So the movie got major points for that, because I find a lot of animated movies have too much of that these days.
I see what you mean about the Big Business message. That was an important element of the original book, it wasn’t just added on due to politics recently, it was part of the story 40 years ago. That’s what the original book was all about. Dr. Suess loved putting double meanings in his books, and the book focuses solely on the Lorax representing reason and evironmentalism while The Once-ler was a personification (if I can use that word, we don’t know if he is even a person in the book) of Industry and Businessmen. The movie kept true to the book in that sense, but for more poltical savvy viewers you can also pick up Liberal/Conservative references that were expanded in the movie. (Listen to The Once-ler’s “How Bad can I be?” song)
So going to the movie I was expecting a lot of pro-environment messages. And personally, I didn’t mind because I am a liberal. So I could relate for I didn’t find it obnoxiously done at all, but that’s just me.
I think one reason I liked the movie so much was that I had SUCH low expectations for it. I didn’t even really want to see it. So I was caught off guard by the colorful animation, great music, and good voice acting. If I had high expectations for the movie, I would of felt a different way leaving the theatre, but I was pleasently suprised.
Again, not the greatest animated movie, by far. But overall, enjoyable, with a good message.
Oh, and I forgot. I adored The Once-ler. And the main reason is probably because he is voiced by Ed Helms. Helms is one of my favorite actors, his work in the Hangover, Daily Show, And The Office are great. So I am glad he got to sing so many songs, he has a great voice. He’s also a bluegrass singer too!